An admitted gang member who shot a 16-year-old boy during a botched drug deal in east Allentown last summer was sentenced Monday to 61/2 to 20 years in state prison.

Lehigh County Judge Maria L. Dantos told Ruben "P-Dot" Pichirilo, 20, he was lucky his attorney got him a plea deal or he'd be serving a longer sentence.

"You shot a 16-year-old kid. And why? Because you didn't want to lose a couple hundred dollars," Dantos said. "You are a very violent young man."

The shooting occurred on Aug. 30 in the 1100 block of East Gage Street. The boy told police that he was with Pichirilo, Pichirilo's father and another man that night, and that they went to an apartment building to buy marijuana.

The boy was given $700 to take to a dealer. The dealer took the money but never returned with the drugs, the boy said.

Pichirilo told the boy "let's take a walk," according to court records. Pichirilo then pulled a gun from his waistband and shot the boy once in the side of his chest.

The boy ran from Pichirilo and collapsed. He underwent surgery and lost a kidney, his spleen and part of a lung in the attack. Police said the boy identified the shooter as "P-Dot," someone he knew from the neighborhood.

The boy was not in court. After speaking to police in the hospital, he stopped cooperating, prosecutors said. Pichirilo was initially charged with attempted murder, but was later offered a plea deal to aggravated assault.

"If I was pressed to offer a silver lining, it was that this was a drug dealer who was trying to rip him off, and not a law-abiding citizen," said his attorney, Gavin Holihan.

Pichirilo, of Chew Street, attended the hearing in a pink Lehigh County jail jumpsuit, a sign he committed infractions while incarcerated. He explained to the judge he had to fight behind bars because he had left his gang.

"People were trying to get at me," he said.

Dantos noted that jail officials reported that Pichirilo jumped into a fight that was already ongoing in the prison.

"It's captured on video, if you really want to go there," she said.

Court officials did not say which gang Pichirilo was affiliated with.

Pichirilo was arrested five times as a juvenile, Dantos said, and has adult convictions for selling drugs and assault. He previously served a one- to two-year prison term.

He apologized to the judge and said he planned on learning a trade during his sentence so he could have a better life when he's released.

"Since I was 12 I've been trying to prove myself, been trying to make a name for myself. I don't want to live that life any more. I promised my mom and my daughter," he said.

As part of the sentence, Pichirilo must undergo substance abuse and mental health evaluations. He is banned from having any contact with the victim or fellow gang members.